Unplanned Pregnancy, Expectant Parent Blog - Independent Adoptions vs. Agency Adoptions Part 1

08/27/07

Independent Adoptions vs. Agency Adoptions Part 1

Posted by : Coley S. in Crisis Pregnancy Blog at 04:54 am , 353 words, 120 views
Categories: Types of Adoption

As you are considering adoption, you may be reading about two of the different types of adoption; independent (also called private) adoptions and agency adoptions. There are pros and cons in each type of adoption. In this post and the next one, we will look at both of these types of adoption.

First off, let’s look at the definition for independent adoptions from the Adoption Glossary.

Independent Adoptions: These adoptions are arranged by an intermediary other than an adoption agency, such as a lawyer. Independent adoptions are not legally permitted in all states.

In simple terms, an independent adoption is one in which an adoption agency is not involved. An adoption attorney would handle all the legalities involved in the situation. An expectant mother would find the prospective adoptive parents on her own by looking at profiles of parents hoping to adopt online, hoping to adopt websites, etc.. Another common way in which independent adoptions may occur is if the expectant mother (or someone the expectant mother knows) knows of a couple looking to adopt once she becomes pregnant then they go through an adoption attorney who would handle the legalities. It’s also important to keep the last part of that definition in mind, that not all states permit independent adoptions.

SPONSOR

Some expectant mothers and prospective adoptive parents may feel that they have more control in an independent adoption as they do not have to follow the rules of an adoption agency while others feel that independent adoptions may not be as safe for the expectant mother. Unless an expectant mother hires her own attorney (and few can probably afford that) then no one is looking out for her best interests.

Also in independent adoptions, there is the lack of support (both pre and post adoption) and education that one may get from an adoption agency.

Stay tuned and read about agency adoptions in the next post.

--
Related Reading:
Independent Adoption: A Birthmother’s Point of View
Attorney or Agency?
Options in Independent Adoptions

For information/instructions on how to subscribe FREE to your favorite AdoptionBlogs, please visit this link.

7 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Sunbonnet Sue [Member]

it seems maybe an expectant mother could ask the adoptive parents to pay for a separate attorney for her? Would that be a legitimate adoption expense for adoptive parents to pay?

Permalink 08/27/07 @ 10:15

Comment from: Coley S. [Member]

· http://open.adoptionblogs.com

Sue,

What adoptive parents can and can not pay is different in each state so I think it would depend on the state they are in as to if they could pay for that or not.

And if they did hire and pay for a separate attorney from their own, they would still be paying for it and basically that attorney would be working for them too.

Thanks for your comment! :)

Permalink 08/27/07 @ 10:50

Comment from: Sunbonnet Sue [Member]

certainly laws need to be followed, and they are different from state to state.

I was thinking that the placing mom could hire the attorney of her choice on her own. All the adoptive parents would need to do was pay the bill when it arrived. Even that could be handled through their lawyer.

Can't speak for all families, but our family would be willing to do this, if we were considering adoption of a healthy infant. Placing mothers truly need impartial counsel, it would be in everyone's best interests moving forward for it to happen.

Permalink 08/28/07 @ 10:05

Comment from: Coley S. [Member]

· http://open.adoptionblogs.com

Placing mothers truly need impartial counsel, it would be in everyone's best interests moving forward for it to happen.

Couldn't agree with you more!

Permalink 08/28/07 @ 12:11

Comment from: Coley S. [Member]

· http://open.adoptionblogs.com

Placing mothers truly need impartial counsel, it would be in everyone's best interests moving forward for it to happen.

Couldn't agree with you more!

Permalink 08/28/07 @ 12:11

Comment from: rsm2004 [Member]

Adoptivefamilies.com has a list of the basic rules of independent adoptions per state (from 2004). It tells about the legally allowed expences, whether a state allows out-of-state adoptions, the rules concerning the father, how long the palcing mother has before she has to legally sign etc. I know that in CO all adoptions go through the state.
I found it very helpful to have an overview like that.

Permalink 09/01/07 @ 11:33

Comment from: Coley S. [Member]

· http://unplanned-pregnancy.adoptionblogs.com/